Proyecto Pastoral AKA Jesuit Hispano Ministry

Programs: Proyecto Pastoral serves over 2,500 children, youth and families through its five programs. Our programs include: IMPACTO (Imaginando Mañana Pico-Aliso Community Team Outreach) is an after-school academic enrichment program for nearly 200 youth ages 6-18. IMPACTO provides development in literacy, leadership, art and computers skills. IMPACTO works with parents, teachers, and students to set and reach attainable educational goals and ensures student progress by evaluating grades and other indicators. Parents participate in classes that encourage them to make literacy a part of their daily family interaction. Proyecto Pastoral's Thrift Store, is a local retailer that provides jobs for residents, low cost gently used goods, and allows reformed gang members from Homeboy Industries to shop free of charge for interview appropriate attire. More than a retailer, this community hub acts as a resource for local residents who often can not afford to shop at more expensive stores. Comunidad En Movimiento (Community in Action) is the leadership training and civic engagement arm of Proyecto Pastoral. It is also the primary vehicle through which Proyecto Pastoral increases and strengthens community resources. Through CEM, the community has created the Safe Passage program, which assists children to arrive safely home from school, and the Safety Project, which creates a network between local residents, public officials and law enforcement to increase community safety. Proyecto Pastoral Early Childhood Education Centers provides low- and no-cost childcare and preschool services to close to 100 children ages 18 months through 5 years. Proyecto operates two year-round centers, La Guarderia and the Centro de Alegria, and provides relevant and culturally sensitive educational curriculum to children from low-income Latino families in the neighborhood. Guadalupe Homeless Project (GHP) provides 90-day emergency shelter to 650 men and meals to 900 men. Clients receive needed medical, case management, mental health services and workshops that build their capacity to transition into independent living. Clients actively contribute to a personal savings account and participate in classes like English as a Second Language, financial literacy and workshops to learn about labor and immigrant rights. In 2007, 35% of GHP men transitioned into independent living within three months. 

Each of Proyecto Pastoral’s programs have had noteworthy accomplishments. Comunidad en Movimiento’s achievements include building a network of community leaders who actively worked to engage public officials and the police department. What was once a marginalized and neglected community is now a recognized and coveted partner by all local representatives. These achievements have made the neighborhood safer and have encouraged growth by generating housing and public resources for long-time residents.

 The Guadalupe Homeless Project (GHP) is completing its second year of a participant initiated job training program. The recession has had a tremendous impact on the community; the residents at the shelter especially who go days often weeks without steady work. Shelter residents created a peer to peer job training program in response to the sluggish economy so they could teach each other and learn new trades. Over the past year the job development program has resulted in the creation of 50 jobs with over a dozen clients being re-employed after completing a project. Over the past 5 years GHP has also boasted a transition rate 15% higher than local shelters because of the unique community and family environment at the shelter. 

 The Early Childhood Education Centers gained Proyecto Pastoral recognition as a high performing nonprofit by the California Community Foundation for their parent ambassador program.